HMS K-4 was part of the Royal Navy’s K-class submarines, an ambitious and ultimately flawed attempt to create fast fleet submarines capable of operating alongside surface warships. Designed during World War I, the K-class were powered by steam turbines rather than diesel engines, allowing them to achieve unprecedented surface speeds for submarines of their era.
The concept came with severe compromises. Steam propulsion required complex boiler systems, tall funnels, and lengthy dive times, making the boats difficult and dangerous to operate. The K-class quickly earned a reputation for mechanical unreliability and frequent accidents, leading to the grim nickname “the Kalamity class.” Several were lost in peacetime incidents, most notably during night maneuvers and fleet exercises.
HMS K-4 herself was lost in 1917 during a night exercise known as the Battle of May Island, when a series of collisions among British warships and submarines resulted in multiple losses without enemy involvement. The incident underscored the inherent risks of combining large fleets with experimental submarine designs.
This 1/350 scale model represents HMS K-4 in her World War I configuration and highlights the long, sleek hull and distinctive features that set the K-class apart from more conventional submarines. Finished in acrylics with restrained oil weathering, the model is mounted on a hand-cut hardwood base consistent with the rest of the submarine series. As with all builds in this collection, the display includes the national flag of origin, a 1/350 scale human figure for size comparison, and a QR code linking to further historical information.
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